Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for the meeting were received from Councillors J Alcock and K Spencer

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest in respect of matters contained in the agenda.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests.

There was no public participation.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee about the responses received to the Council’s consultation about renewal of the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) for Whalley, and seeking Committee support for progressing the CIA.

It was noted that the only response was from the Parish Council urging renewal of the CIA.

The Council’s Solicitor reminded Members of the guidance issued under s.182 of the Licensing Act 2003 with regards to publishing CIA’s and outlined the options available to them.  The matter was debated, and on balance, the consensus was that there was sufficient evidence to justify the renewal of the CIA.

*****RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Recommend to Council that the renewed CIA, (detailed at 3.4 of the report) be approved to form part of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Committee’s approval of the proposed Licensing Enforcement Policy.

A draft Licensing Enforcement Policy had been brought before Committee in January 2025 but the matter had been deferred to give Members further time to consider the draft policy.

Members were advised that the Licensing Enforcement Policy is intended to be an over-arching policy, setting out the Council’s general approach to enforcement activity where there is alleged to have been a breach of a licence which has been granted in respect of an activity conforming to a topic specific policy.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the draft Licensing Policy at Appendix 2 of the report

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Committee’s approval of the Council’s procedure and conditions attached to exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism.

It was noted that the licensing authority did not currently have a set procedure or any model conditions which would attach to such consents.  These had been drafted to ensure that the public and in particular younger people or vulnerable adults are protected when hypnotism events take place.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Approve the Application form, Model Conditions and Guidance notes for consent to exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism at Appendix 1 to the report.

2.     Approve the amendment of the Council’s Licensing Scheme of delegation to include Officer approval of such consents, save where refusal is recommended where the matter will be referred to a Licensing Sub-committee for decision.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee of the progress made in establishing further Hackney Carriage stands (taxi ranks) in five locations across the borough, and seeking approval for further steps to be taken.

The matter had been considered by Committee in January 2025 where authorisation was granted for the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to consult LCC and thereafter the Police with regards to five potential taxi ranks in the Ribble Valley.   

LCC Highways had indicated that there was no objection to a proposed evening taxi rank on Barclay Road, Longridge outside of restricted hours.  Similarly, LCC Highways and LCC Bus Services team had no objection to the bus stop/loading bay area on Accrington Road, Whalley being used as a taxi rank between midnight and 5:30am.

The proposals had been referred to the Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant, the Licensing Sergeant and the Traffic Management Officer, all of whom were supportive and raised no objections.

The Council’s Solicitor outlined the next steps in terms of giving formal notices in relation to the five locations identified, together with a full-time two space hackney carriage rank to be located on the Council’s own land in the lay-by outside the Platform Gallery in Clitheroe.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Authorise the Council’s Head of Legal and Democratic Services to give formal notice to the Chief Officer of Police for the area and for public notice to be given in at least one newspaper circulating in the district. Thereafter, consideration should be given to any objection or representation in writing within 28 days of first publication of such notice.

2.     Agree that this consultation and publication shall take place with regard to the five locations identified in this report, together with a full-time two space hackney carriage rank to be located on the Council’s own land in the lay-by outside the Platform Gallery in Clitheroe.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee of the updated policy for the Ribble Valley Events Safety Advisory Group (RVESAG).

It was identified that the protocol required updating in line with the processes now in place along with changes to job titles and other minor amendments. Members of the RVESAG were consulted and the revised protocol approved at the RVESAG meeting of 13 February 2025.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee of the results of an inspection of licensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles.

On 19 February 2025, the Council’s Taxi Enforcement Officer carried out an inspection of licensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles, in a joint operation with the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency.

Eleven vehicles were inspected, nine of which were licensed by Ribble Valley Borough Council. Eight of those vehicles were found to be of the required standard.

Of the three vehicles that failed to meet the required standards, two rectified the defects the same day, and the third did so within six days.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee of the lapsing of the easement for off-sales introduced during the Covid 19 pandemic, and the consequential variation to the guidance under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

It was noted that the off-sales easement will lapse on 31 March 2025, and the Licensing Act 2003 will revert to the pre-covid position when the measure expires. Thus, any on-sales only licence holder who took advantage of the easement and who wished to continue to carry out off-sales would need to apply for variation of their licence in advance of the end of March 2025.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee of proposed arrangements for training in respect of licensing in general, including sub-committee practice and procedure, together with a presentation on CCTV in Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles and related issues.

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

There are no items under this heading

There were no items under this heading.